Mario

Ronald Reagan’s America serves as the backdrop for this story of Mario Cuomo, the son of Italian immigrants who became Governor of New York and championed leadership based on compassion. Through unseen archival footage, intimate family reflections and excerpts from his personal diary, this documentary conveys not only Cuomo’s battles defending working-class families, but also his identity as a leader shaped by humility, intellect, and the struggle his parents' generation endured. His conviction that politics should serve those without privilege guided him through decades of leadership defined by empathy and an unwavering sense of duty. The filmmakers also reveal the tension between Cuomo’s personal and public roles, his doubts and ambitions, and his deeply held Catholicism countered with his dedication to addressing the AIDS crisis and supporting abortion rights. As he finally ends his political life and turns more deeply to family, Cuomo’s story is more than just one of leadership, but one of love, empathy and commitment to service that goes beyond a chronicle of political life.—Deborah Rudolph